The Royal Whanganui Opera House is a theatre located in Whanganui, New Zealand. Built in 1899, it is New Zealand's last Victorian theatre.

Venue: Royal Whanganui Opera House
Town: Whanganui, NZ

The Royal Whanganui Opera House is a theatre located in Whanganui, New Zealand. Built in 1899, it is New Zealand's last Victorian theatre. Located on St Hill Street in central Whanganui, the theatre seats 830 and is a venue for many local, national and international events. These include grand opera, operetta, tribute concerts, piano recitals, orchestral concerts, school events, lectures, graduation ceremonies, fashion shows, dance of all forms, and floral theatre. Functions requiring a stage and auditorium style seating can be accommodated. Wedding ceremonies have been performed and the stage can accommodate a reception of up to 80. The Opera House has its own ticketing system but maintains a link to TicketDirect Network. In 1897, Wanganui Borough Councillor F.M. Spurdle proposed that Queen Victoria's “record reign” should be commemorated by the building of an opera house. The idea was supported by Mayor Alexander Hatrick, an investigative committee was established and the council agreed to proceed. The Wanganui Opera House Company published a prospectus in a local newspaper in March 1897. Of the 5000 £1 shares, 4000 were offered to the public. The council announced a competition to design the opera house, to be sited beside the council chambers in St Hill St. The successful architect was to be rewarded with supervision of the job, and a commission of five percent on the total cost, with a second prize of £40 and third prize of £20. The winner, Wellington architect, George Stevenson, was announced in January, 1899. Stevenson died that July, the day on which the foundation stone was laid. A retired Whanganui builder, James Tawse, took over supervision free of charge. The tender of £4597 was awarded to a former employee of his, Swiss-born Nicholas Meuli, who ran his own building company in Whanganui. The general design of the building is of the Tuscan order (pillars and pilasters) for the lower storey and the Doric for the upper one, and somewhat in keeping with the